October 31, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group Precious Life have dismissed as a “publicity stunt” the tabling of a motion in Westminster calling for abortion to be legalised in Northern Ireland. The pro-life group has called on the MP who tabled the motion to “butt out and stop interfering” in Northern Ireland’s protection of unborn children.
The early day motion entitled “Abortion rights in Northern Ireland” was tabled yesterday by Labour MP, Diane Abbot. Earlier this year she also tabled an amendment to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. However, her amendment failed to be debated in Westminster on 22nd October due to the pro-life opposition from Northern Ireland.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said, “This motion must be dismissed out of hand for what it really is – a publicity stunt. Thousands of early day motions are tabled during every session of Parliament with virtually no prospect of ever being debated. This is simply Diane Abbott’s effort to save face after the defeat of her plans to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.”
“Even the title of her motion is a misnomer. There no such thing as ‘abortion rights’ and killing an unborn child is certainly never a ‘right’. Even the 1967 Abortion Act does not refer to abortion as a ‘right.’ In fact, in all parts of the UK, killing an unborn child is still a criminal offence, except for the abortionists who – protected by the ‘67 Act – kill 600 babies every day” she said.
Smyth added, “Less than two weeks ago, thousands of people attended our Rally For Life at Stormont to stand united with our politicians and churches in opposing abortion. Northern Ireland has sent out a clear message that we do not want abortion imposed on us from Westminster. We want our unborn children and their mothers protected from abortion.”
This year in May, and again in October, the leaders of the four main political parties in Northern Ireland sent a joint letter to all Westminster MPs, stating the strong opposition across the community to any move to impose abortion on the province, and stating that the law on abortion in Northern Ireland should be a matter for the Assembly only.
Also in May and October, the leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland wrote to all Westminster MPs stating that the law on abortion should be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly, and stressing the importance for the government to respect the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland.
Smyth concluded, “Diane Abbott is still arrogantly ignoring the clear pro-life message from our politicians, church leaders, and our people. My message to Diane Abbot is ‘butt out!’ of Northern Ireland and stop interfering in our protection of our unborn children.”